Don Cornelius | 1936 - 2012

"The acceptance of music on a total media basis is much more developed now, it's much more available. When we started, we were the only program that a certain genre of artist could get exposure on," Cornelius told the Times.

"The acceptance of music on a total media basis is much more developed now, it's much more available. When we started, we were the only program that a certain genre of artist could get exposure on," Cornelius told the Times. (Kim D. Johnson / Associated Press)

"The acceptance of music on a total media basis is much more developed now, it's much more available. When we started, we were the only program that a certain genre of artist could get exposure on," Cornelius told the Times.Kim D. Johnson / Associated Press